British Soap Awards 2013: Why Emmerdale should win big this year!

It is that time of year again, time to cast your vote in this year’s British Soap Awards as the six categories open to the general public have revealed their short list nominations.

The British Soap Awards, due to take place next month, is your chance to voice your appreciation for your favourite actresses and actors in the world of the Great British Soap Opera. This year see’s the usual suspects, but also offers the opportunity to give some departing stars the best send-off possible, for awarding them for their part.

Nominated for Sexiest Male and Sexiest Female are former married couple Natalie Anderson and Matthew Wolfenden who play Alicia Gallagher and David Metcalfe respectively. Fans of the hit ITV soap have watched Alicia’s heartbreak whilst David has been planning his wedding to Priya (Fiona Wade).

With a stiff upper lip she has soldiered through her emotions making her even more adorable to viewers, and David it has been noticed with everyone hoping that he realises he loves her too before he walks Priya down the aisle. After all, they are the sexiest couple on the soap!

Up for the award of Best Actress is Lucy Pargeter who plays Chas Dingle. Lucy’s performance whilst her character was being attacked by, and subsequently killed (ish) Carl King (Tom Lister) would have been award-worthy anyway, but the fact that it came on live TV makes this nomination particularly deserving.

Up for best Actor is Lucy’s on-screen brother Jeff Hordley. Jeff’s portrayal of Cain Dingle has been flawless throughout the 13 years he has played him, but this year he has delivered a different, almost more human side to the rough and ready thug like character.

Fans have seen recently how Cain has developed real feelings for someone who he isn’t actually related to, and we were all shocked and moved to see his heartbreak when Moira (Natalie J Robb) miscarried their baby with a performance that was indeed worthy of this award.

Up for Villain of the Year is Dominic Power. Dominic brought Cameron Murray to our screens as a bit of a slime ball. Already having cheated on his wife with Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb), it seemed that, whilst being a bit slithery, he was harmless enough. That was until Carl King attempted to blackmail him over his affair with Debbie’s aunt Chas. He then proved to us all just how dark his character is by finishing off Carl after Chas had hit him and left him for dead, and then sitting back and letting her confess to his murder believing it was her blow that had killed him. Since then he has gone on to kill Alex (Kurtis Stacey) as well as kidnapping Robbie (Jamie Shelton).

As with all the mainstream soaps, Emmerdale is up for the top prize of Soap of the Year, and after their epic 40th anniversary live episode it is clear to see why they should be a front runner for this award this year.

The live episode, which was an hour in length, went off without a single hitch. Including more scenes, locations (two of which had to be purposely built for the occasion as the studio was too far to jump from scenes) and cast than any other attempt at a live episode, Emmerdale Live showed two weddings, two (incredibly spectacularly acted) births and a murder – there weren’t any huge stunts, but the writing and acting of the episode meant it really didn’t need any. And besides, they didn’t really have anything to prove after hosting the first ever soap festival a few weeks before!